The WBA issued a statement saying that it gave its secondary light heavyweight champion, Nathan Cleverly of Wales, special permission to avoid his mandatory defenses so that Cleverly could face Badou Jack, on Saturday, August 26th in Las Vegas. That fight will be on the pay-per-view undercard when Floyd Mayweather faces Conor McGregor. However, the WBA is requiring that the Cleverly vs. Jack winner, if they wish to retain the WBA belt, must immediately begin negotiations with the WBA third tier, or interim, champion Dmitry Bivol of Russia. If no voluntary agreement is reached, the WBA will call for purse bids on September 11th. The WBA first-tier, or super champion in the weight class is Andre Ward, who also holds the WBO and IBF titles. WBC champion Adonis Stevenson is the lineal champion. --Scott Shaffer